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Mich. Weightlifter Headed for Turkey
By BREE FOWLER, Associated Press Writer 10/31/2001
DETROIT (AP) - Fear of potential terrorist attacks against Americans overseas will not stop Jackie Berube from competing in the biggest weightlifting competition of her life.
Berube, who holds all U.S. women's weightlifting records in the 128-pound division, will be the lone weightlifter representing the United States at the World Weightlifting Championships in Turkey.
A team of seven American women and four men had been scheduled to travel to the Nov. 3-11 event, expected to draw about 500 athletes from 70 countries. But the United States withdrew funding for its team because of security concerns after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
Japan also withdrew from the event because of security concerns in Turkey, a predominantly Muslim country supporting the United States in its anti-terrorism campaign.
However, after 21/2 years of training, Berube said she isn't going to let the fear of possible attacks stop her from going. The Escanaba, Mich., native raised about $2,500 to pay her way and made her own travel arrangements.
``It's my first world team,'' said Berube, who will turn 30 in December. ``I don't want to be scared and not go. Something could happen to me here just as easily.''
Turkish weightlifting officials said Berube has little to worry about and said the rest of the U.S. team should come, too. The championships will take place in the Mediterranean resort city of Antalya.
Kenan Nuhut, president of the Turkish Weightlifting Federation, said organizers would provide special protection for Berube.
Berube, who trains at the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo., said she has received a number of donations to help pay for the trip. She earned the rest of the money working as a sales associate at a Home Depot store in Colorado Springs.
A partnership between Home Depot and the U.S. Olympic Committee allows Berube and three other Olympic hopefuls to work part time at the store and earn full-time wages to help pay their living and training expenses.
Berube started her athletic career as a gymnast, but during her last year at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, she became interested in wrestling and joined the university's men's team.
She excelled at the sport and went on to win a silver medal at the 1996 World Wrestling Championships.
Berube said she got interested in weightlifting after meeting Tara Nott, a female weightlifter who won a gold medal in the 2000 Olympics. She said Nott put her in touch with a coach.
Berube eventually went to train at a center near Chicago and then to Colorado in 1999.
Her short weightlifting career has been a successful one. At the 2001 USA Weightlifting World Team Trials in June in Irving, Texas, Berube broke the American record in the clean and jerk for her weight class, lifting 248.6 pounds.
With travel arrangements completed and her spot in the upcoming World Championships secured, Berube said she's focusing on training for Turkey and winning her weight division there. Then she will begin preparing for the 2004 Olympics in Athens.
``That's the only goal,'' Berube said from Colorado Springs. ``That's why I came out here. It's been a lifelong dream. It's probably my last chance. I've got to give it everything I've got.''
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Smith unable to participate at Women’s World Championships; Wrestle-off between Macari-Montierth and Pavlik set for Nov. 10
10/31/2001
Gary Abbott/USA Wrestling
Iris Smith (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids) will be unable to compete at the Women’s World Championships in Sofia, Bulgaria, Nov. 22-25, as she has joined the U.S. Army and started her basic training commitment.
The World Championships of Wrestling were originally set for Sept. 26-29 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, but were postponed due to the terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11. The World Championships were rescheduled by FILA on October 11.
Smith decided to join the U.S. Army prior to the originally scheduled World Championships. When the competition was rescheduled for November, Smith had to fulfill her military commitment.
Smith competes at 165.25 pounds, and won the U.S. Nationals and World Team Trials titles during the 2001 season. She was a member of the 2000 U.S. Women’s World Team. Smith is originally from Albany, Ga.
A Special Wrestle-off will be held for the open U.S. World Team position between No. 3 ranked Melani Macari-Montierth (Fremont, Calif./Missouri Valley College) and the winner of the 165.25 pound weight class at the recently completed Sunkist Kids International Open, Jenna Pavlik (Lewes, Del.).
Sandra Bacher (San Jose, Calif./Dave Schultz WC) holds the No. 2 ranking at the weight class, but will be unable to participate due to prior commitments. Macari-Montrieth, a student at Missouri Valley College, did not participate in the Women’s World Team Training Camp, and a Wrestle-off became necessary.
The Special Wrestle-off is expected to be held at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo., Nov. 10. Specific details about the venue and session times will be announced when available.
Macari-Montierth will compete for the USA at the Women’s World Cup in France this week, then return to the United States. Macari-Montierth placed third in the 2001 Women’s World Team Trials.
Pavlik is a freshman at Lock Haven Univ., and is a former Cadet World medalist. She was a First Team member of the 2001 TheMat.com/Asics Girls High School All-American Team.
Another U.S. World Team member, Tina George (Colorado Springs, Colo./Sunkist Kids), will also be unable to participate at 123.25 pounds, as she has also joined the U.S. Army and has entered basic training. A Special Wrestle-off for the 123.25-pound position will be held in Gym #9 of Sports Center II at the U.S. Olympic Training Center on Tuesday, Nov. 6, with session times of 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.